Great family Home in tHe
Heart of midnapore!
Open floor plan with main floor living room, dining room, kitchen,
4 piece bath and 3 spacious bedrooms. Numerous upgrades
throughout. Wonderful front porch and a south exposure, pie shaped
backyard with RV swing gate. Great location close to schools, shops,
parks, transit, Fish Creek Park and lake privileges for Midnapore Lake.
Great value! Only $349,800! MLS®C3463720

For more details call the “Home Hunters”

Grant

& Steve Hunter 403-278-9208

sutton group canwest vista • www . thehomehunters . com

upport is growing for Calgary
homeowners looking to go green,
with the recent announcement
of a mortgage plan from BMO Bank of
Montreal designed to encourage and
reward Canadians looking to reduce
their energy usage, and save on home
expenses.
People whose homes meet the list
energy efficiency criteria will qualify
for the BMO Eco Smart Mortgage
with a five-year fixed rate of 3.89
per cent. A typical customer with a
$300,000 mortgage amortized over 30
years would save thousands of dollars
over the five years on an Eco Smart
Mortgage.
“The BMO Eco Smart Mortgage is
designed to encourage homeowners to
lower their energy usage and ultimately
reduce the cost of owning a home,” said
Katie Archdekin, head of Mortgage
Products, BMO Bank of Montreal.
“Canadians want to decrease their
carbon footprint and recognize that
their home is one of the key ways they
can do so.”
The mortgage also aligns with a
pilot program currently underway at
CREB® designed to get REALTORS®,
consumers, and corporate partners
working together to reduce the ecological impacts of Calgary homes. The
Go Green Challenge, which runs until
June, introduces new energy rating
and rating date fields to the Multiple
Listing Service (MLS®) System that
identify a home’s energy efficiency
based on the EnerGuide rating system.
“The idea is to help buyers and
sellers in identifying how renovations
and upgrades can improve a home’s
energy efficiency,” said CREB® president Sano Stante. “As the number of
homes included in the program grows,
REALTORS® will be able to search for
homes with an EnergGuide rating and
provide potential buyers with a custom
report of the energy-efficient features
of a home.”
REALTORS® taking part in the Go
Green Challenge are trained on green
homes and energy efficiency, communications collateral to promote
the benefits of energy efficiency to
prospective clients, given an opportunity to participate in community

information sessions and have their
participation in the program available on a publically accessible website.
Participating REALTORS® are also
required to take the NAR® Green Real
Estate Professional Designation (or
equivalent) and attend an orientation
session.
Reinforcing the growing importance of eco-friendly homes is a new
Leger Marketing survey that shows
47 per cent of Canadian homeowners
plan to make energy efficient upgrades
in the coming year, underscoring this
appetite among Canadians to lower
home energy costs.
The survey also showed that the
majority of homeowners (51 per cent)
cite utility costs as the biggest surprise
financially when it comes to owning a
home. Reducing energy usage is one
way that Canadians can significantly
cut back the cost of running a home.
To qualify for the BMO Eco Smart
Mortgage, homes must meet a list
of criteria including: high-efficiency
heating and cooling systems, high
quality attic insulation, solar, tank-less
or ENERGY STAR qualified hot water
system and ENERGY STAR qualified
windows, doors and major appliances.
The introduction of the new mortgage brings from BMO adds to the
options available for eco-friendly
homebuyers. Other major financial
institutions like TD Canada Trust and
RBC already offer incentives for those
interested in purchasing a green home.
RBC’s Energy Saver Mortgage offers
a refund of up to $300 on a homeenergy-related improvement, and
TD Canada Trust’s Green Mortgage
refunds homeowners up to 1.5 per cent
on the cost of a mortgage with qualified purchases.
“Financial institutions offering
environmentally-focused programs
like the Green Mortgage program
is great news. It demonstrates a
commitment to sustainability, the
environment and to the real estate
industry,” said Stante of BMO’s new
mortgage offering. “BMO is recognizing that there is a need to consider
sustainability and our environment
in our buying decisions. Purchasing
a home is one of the biggest buying decisions that we make, and now
we can make that decision while
having the peace of mind that we are
doing something for our environmental future.”

mortgage rates

CREB® Staff

S

ignaling a major change in the
way homebuyers approach the
mortgage process, new rules
regarding government-backed insured
mortgages took effect on March 18.
Designed to support the long-term
stability of the Canadian housing market, the new rules include reducing the
maximum amortization period to 30
years from 35 years for new government-backed insured mortgages with
loan-to-value ratios of more than 80
per cent.

nce again, the city is asking for
your help to determine what city
services matter most to Calgarians
and just how all those hard-earned
tax dollars are spent.
The second of three phases of the
City of Calgary public engagement
process commenced March 15, and
will continue through to the end
of April. Participants will have an
opportunity to take part in community forums and online discussions,
create their own YouTube video for
Budget TV, and conduct their own
budget consultation with family
and friends.
Calgarians eager to take part can
download the Budget Kit Booklet
or pick up a hard copy at any City of
Calgary Public Library location. The
18-page booklet contains a snapshot
of City departments and the services
that they offer, detailing the specific
budgets of each department, their
overall goals and priorities.
“The City of Calgary can only
be strengthened by this process,”
says Owen Tobert, city manager.
“Open dialogue such as this public
engagement will sew the fabric for a
stronger community for Calgarians
and ensure their thoughts are being

considered when Council makes
decisions about The City’s future.”
The information gathered during the three-phase process will be
provided to City Council in June, as
it considers its priorities for the 20122014 business plans and budgets and
it will build the foundation for future
planning and budgeting.
For more information on “Our
City, Our Budget, Our Future,” visit
http://ourcity-ourbudget-ourfuture.
blogspot.com.

$1.3B
The City of
Calgary’s
total operating
budget for
2011 is $1.324
billion dollars.

housing

Canadian Real Estate Association
Launches New Ad Campaign
T

he Canadian Real Estate
Association (CREA) is debuting
a new national advertising campaign
about how REALTORS® help people
with the biggest financial decision
of their lives, buying and selling
their homes.
The television commercial is
a modern day re-creation of the
Mother Goose fable The Old Woman
Who Lived in a Shoe.
“Just as peoples’ requirements
for a home are incredibly diverse
and varied, so too is the knowledge, expertise and services of the
REALTOR® working for them,”
says CREA President Georges
Pahud. “Whatever your needs, a
REALTOR® can help.”
The commercial conveys
the serious message about how
REALTORS® work closely with
their customers to understand their
needs and champion their uniqueness. REALTORS® meet a wide
range of consumer needs, providing
personalized service when it comes
to selling their homes or finding that

special home for the most demanding customer.
Complementing the television
commercial are real-life consumer
testimonials on the website howrealtorshelp.ca. Recent homebuyers
and sellers share their experiences
of how REALTORS® work to meet
many different consumer needs.
Visitors will also find an extended
version of the television ad on
the website. The longer version
provides a deeper look into the
life of Carmella, the Old Woman
of the fable, communicating how
REALTORS® connect with their
clients in order to fulfill their needs,
whether buying or selling a home.
CREA’s national ad campaign
program started in 2006 and runs
ads twice a year, in the spring and
fall. The television ad that aired in
the fall of 2009, entitled “Neverending Negotiations”, won a
bronze award at the 2010 national
Marketing Awards.

what they’re saying…
“Buying a home is an important life decision that
signals a sense of accomplishment and a place for
memories to be created. Real estate professionals
help navigate this important life decision by
providing expert advice and guidance on the right
type of home.”
commenting on
study that found
46 per cent of
Canadians use
a banker or
realtor® as the
primary source
of information
when purchasing
a home

In light of the changes, those looking to purchase a new home are
advised to:
Consider a shorter amortization:
• The shorter the life of the mortgage, the less you pay in interest.
• Become mortgage free faster and
begin saving more for retirement.
Make sure you can afford what you
signed up for:
• Stress-test your budget using a
mortgage payment based on a
higher rate.
• Total housing costs (mortgage
payments, property taxes, heating
costs, etc.) should not consume
more than one-third of household
income.
Make a larger down payment:
• If you can provide a bigger down
payment, it’s a significant way of

helping you pay less interest
over the life of your mortgage.
• With a down payment of at least
20 per cent, you can avoid the
added cost of mortgage default
insurance.
Make pre-payments when you can:
• Pay weekly or bi-weekly instead
of monthly.
• Increase your mortgage payment
(principal and interest).
Think carefully about fixed
vs. variable:
• While variable rate mortgages
have been a winning strategy over
the long term, fixed rate mortgages
(currently at historic lows) provide
the peace of mind of insulating
you against rate increases and the
certainty of knowing how much of
your mortgage you will have paid
down at the end of your term.

The Government
of Canada’s
new maximum
amortization
period for new
governmentbacked insured
mortgages.

economy

TD Revises Forecast Upwards in Light of Recent Growth
T

D Economics recently announced
that it is revising its growth
forecast for 2011 to 3.0 per cent, up
from 2.6 per cent. According to the
bank, the upward revision reflects a
brighter U.S. outlook, as well as an
increased global appetite for Canadian
commodities.
“Canada’s economy has entered
2011 on a stronger footing than was
envisioned at the time of our last
quarterly forecast in December,” said
Craig Alexander, chief economist for
TD Bank Group.
The recent release of fourthquarter data revealed that Canada’s
economy finished 2010 on a surprisingly strong note, with an advance in
real GDP of 3.3 per cent (annualized)
following an upwardly-revised 1.8 per

cent expansion in the prior period.
While consumers turned in another
strong showing in the final quarter,
much of the strength was attributable
to net exports, which alone contributed a stunning 4.5 percentage points
to economic growth - the largest
contribution from net trade since the
early 2000s. At the same time, business inventories were drawn down in
the quarter, suggesting the surge in
demand from the U.S. and Canadian
consumers was largely unanticipated.
The reduction in inventories bodes
well for the near-term performance.
The first half of 2011 is likely to see
further advances in the United States’
road back to economic health, with
an average expansion of about 3.3 per
cent (annualized) in real GDP.

municipal

Brenda Strafford Centre
Celebrates Official Opening
M

ore women and children in
the Calgary area who have fled
domestic violence will have a safe
and affordable place to call home
thanks to the Brenda Strafford
Foundation Affordable Housing
Initiative. The Government of
Canada and the Government of
Alberta recently celebrated the official opening of the 85-unit housing
project, which received close to
$8 million in funding under
the Canada-Alberta
Affordable Housing
Program.
Recognizing
a need for more
long-term supportive housing
for women and
children who
have fled domestic violence, the
Brenda Strafford
Foundation committed an additional $14 million
to bring this critical housing
project to Calgary.
“Through investments like this
one, our Government is helping to
make an important difference in
the lives of families in need,” said

Parliamentary Secretary Obhrai.
“The Brenda Strafford Centre will
provide a stable and supportive
environment for more women and
children in times of crisis. We’re
proud to be a partner in the Centre,
and would like to thank and congratulate the staff, volunteers and
sponsors who helped make this new
facility a reality.”
The Brenda Strafford Centre
features 85 two-bedroom
apartments and includes an
indoor/outdoor play area for
children, private counseling
offices, and
space for group
meetings.
Calgary
and area
REALTORS®,
via their
Calgary Real
Estate Board
Charitable
Foundation
also contributed half a million dollars towards
the Brenda Strafford Society’s
housing initiative, thus becoming
the major non-profit partner in
the project.

matt
varey
senior vice president,
royal bank of canada

CREB REAL ESTATE NEWS ONLINE
®

CREB Real Estate News has partnered with Virtual Paper to publish a fully interactive
online edition at creb.com. All property ads are linked directly to REALTOR.ca and the
edition is iPad, tablet & mobile device compatible. Check it out today at creb.com.
®

30yrs

Albertans See
Slight Price
Increase in
February
A

ccording to the latest numbers
from Statistics Canada, prices
rose 1.2 per cent in Alberta in February,
following a 1.0 per cent increase in
January. Consumers in Alberta paid
15.3 per cent more for gasoline, with
electricity prices in the province also
on the rise.
On a year-over-year basis, prices
increased nationally in six of the eight
major components of the CPI in the
12-month period preceding February.
The largest increase occurred in the
transportation component, where
prices rose 5.1 per cent during the
period, after a 4.8 per cent increase
in January.
Shelter costs rose 2.2 per cent in
February, matching the increase in
January. Homeowners’ replacement
cost increased 3.5 per cent in the 12
months to February. Consumers paid
more for electricity as well as for fuel
oil and other fuels.
However, the mortgage interest cost
index, which measures the change in
the interest portion of payments on
outstanding mortgage debt, continued
to decrease. Consumers also paid less
for natural gas.
Prices for household operations,
furnishings and equipment increased
1.7 per cent between February 2010 and
February 2011. Within this component,
higher prices were recorded for several
items, notably for childcare, domestic
services and Internet access.
The Bank of Canada’s core index
excludes eight of the Consumer Price
Index’s most volatile components
(fruit, fruit preparations and nuts;
vegetables and vegetable preparations;
mortgage interest cost; natural gas;
heating oil and other fuels; gasoline;
inter-city transportation; and tobacco
products and smokers’ supplies) as well
as the effects of changes in indirect
taxes on the remaining components.

Renovated 1 bedroom with large den/2nd bedroom over 1300
sq. ft., new stainless steel appliances. This unit faces south
and west and has a view of the river and the mountains. 2nd
patio access from the master and balcony to enjoy the lovely
views. Westmount Place is fully loaded with full size pool, raquet
ball courts, sauna, etc. Included in condo fee - heat, electricity,
water/sewer, insurance and all recreation facilities. Full time
concierge. Walk to LRT in 2 minutes or downtown in 10 minutes.
Underground parking and a huge Lobby to meet your guests.
Great value and location in building!

Sell your home FASTER and for more MONEY
with Shirley’s Home Selling System

When you list with Shirley you receive these Guarantees:
Your home advertised 24 hours a day until it is SOLD
Your home advertised to millions on www.mikolajow.com
Your home advertised in full colour print ads every day until it is SOLD

SMASHING, FABULOUS bungalow, completely renovated with high
quality finishings. Exterior has new stucco and has been completely
redone including the double attached garage and deck. Interior
with beautiful hardwood flooring throughout most of the main floor,
fabulous kitchen with Bosch and Maytag stainless appliances and a
wonderful family room looking out to very nice backyard with large
deck. EXCEPTIONAL property with quick access to everything!
HIGH QUALITY RENOVATIONS!! QUICK DRIVE TO
DOWNTOWN! ON BUS ROUTE!! MLS®C3452625

Walkout bungalow! Meticulously kept, fabulous home
with great natural light. Super location in beautifully
maintained complex very close to Fish Creek Park.
High ceilings in main and downstairs. Neutral décor!
Living room has gas fi replace & access to deck. Kitchen
with island. Separate dining room. Master has lovely
ensuite with separate shower. Lower level is big with
family room and offi ce/hobby room, bedroom and
full bath. Total of four bathrooms in this lovely home.
QUIET! LOVELY! MLS®C3460911

$389,900

467 WINTERBOURNE CRESCENT SE

$439,900

BRAESIDE ESTATES

WOODLANDS TWO SPLIT

Beautifully maintained three bdrm home. Office on main
floor. Lovely kitchen/eating area overlooks family room with
gas fi replace. Patio door to deck and picturesque backyard.
Living and dining rms are very spacious with lots of room for
entertaining. Laundry on main fl r. Upstairs has master bdrm
w/deck, 4 pc ensuite bath, two other bdrms & 4 pc bath. Bsmt
has lots of room with rec room, exercise/flex room and loads of
storage. New eavestroughs, some new windows, vinyl siding.
Quiet crescent in lovely accessible location. MLS®C3465493

Fabulous location, minutes to major transportation,
schools, shopping, amenities. Very close to Chaparral
Lake! Total four bedrooms, 3 full baths. Beautiful
west facing deck off kitchen/nook. Dining, living
rooms with gas fi replace are open with vaulted ceilings.
Master 3 pc ensuite with double size shower. Two
other bedrooms on main. Fully dev basement has 4th
bedroom, large family room, den/offi ce, 3 pc bath.
GREAT LOCATION! MLS®C3463439

West facing 2 bedroom and 2 bath condo in popular
Inglewood! Close to 9th Avenue shopping and
restaurants with quick access to downtown and
Deerfoot Trail. Bright, open with laminate flooring
through living and dining rooms. Kitchen has lots of
cabinetry and counter space. Master bedroom has 4
piece ensuite. 2nd bedroom great for a roommate with
Queen Murphy bed. 2 assigned underground heated
parking stalls/secure storage locker. MLS®C3445918

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 1:30-4:30 PM
147 PENMEADOWS CLOSE SE
Move in condition! Home situated on a quiet street in the
heart of the community. Excellent condition inside and out.
Recently professionally painted interior walls, trim and
doors in modern colours plus exterior trim. Large LR w/new
opening picture window. Great eat-in kitchen w/loads of
cabinets and counter space, tile backsplash, newer fridge
and vinyl flring. 3 good size bdrms up plus 4 pc bath. Lower
level has large fireplace, 3 pc bath w/tiled shower stall and
laundry rm. Lots of storage space. Sunny South rear yard w/
concrete patio and plenty of room for kids to play. Dbl det gar
w/auto opener. Great location close to all levels of school,
community centre and public transit.

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 1:30-4:30 PM
206–11 AVENUE NW
Great inner city property. Live up and rent down in this
spacious bungalow with hardwood floors throughout. Large
principle rooms, 3 bedrooms up and character den with
original woodwork. Updated kitchen with stainless steel
appliances including gas stove. Updated bath with jetted
tub, new tiles, built-in wall unit in spacious living room.
Newer legal suite with separate heat. Newer 28’x22’ garage.
Large deck. Updated insulation, mechanics and exterior.
Great location, steps to park, tennis courts, curling, shops
and only 6 blocks to downtown. Great value and property!

Large 2 acre lots in a quiet cul-de-sac location. Grandview
Park has matured into one of Springbank’s premiere subdivisions with some of the finest estate homes offering a
private location with quick access to schools, recreation
facilities, major shopping and only 30 minutes to downtown.

mortgage pre-approval…a smart move
1. Save you time and reduce uncertainty as you will be able to let your
realtor® know what price range
you can afford.
2. Give you the edge and confidence
when you are putting offers on
homes in areas where buyers are
actively competing for properties
on the market. Even with a preapproval, you should always write
your offer subject to financing.
This will ensure that the property
appraises and that the lender gives
full approval.
3. Provide you with a written confirmation or pre-approval certificate of
how much you are eligible to borrow.
4. Hold a particular mortgage rate for a specific period of time (e.g.
90-120 days). A “locked-in” rate
means there is no risk of an interest
rate increase while you are house
hunting. A mortgage professional
may be able to obtain a longer preapproval rate hold (e.g. 120 days).
Plus, if the rates drop, your rate
changes to the new rate.

sherry jenkins
mortgage intelligence
What is a mortgage pre-approval?
A mortgage pre-approval is a conditional approval from a lender. Your
mortgage professional will arrange
this for you, after reviewing your
financial situation.
Before giving a pre-approval, the
lender will require proof of:
1. Down Payment – how much money
will you put down on the purchase
of your home or condominium?
2. Income – What is your monthly
income?
3. Credit – Your credit report shows
your ability to repay debt, and the
record will give a six year summary
of your credit cards, car loans, loans
and lines of credit. The lender will
evaluate this report so they are confident that you will pay them back.
Why get a pre-approved mortgage
before you start to look?
A pre-approval will:

7. I f self employed – same as commission sales, plus 2 years business
financial statements
8.Down payment confirmation (3
months bank statements, RRSP
statement, or proof of sale of home).
What will affect your pre-approval?
1. Changing employment or doing
anything that will reduce or affect
your income. Tell your mortgage
professional if you are on probation
at work, are seasonal or if you work
a lot of overtime.
2. Applying for new credit cards
or loans.
3. Missing payments on your credit
cards or loans or going over the
limits of your credit cards.
4. Entering into a “don’t pay for a
year” agreement.
5. Guaranteeing or co-signing a loan
or mortgage for someone else.
6. U
sing any of your down payment
money for other purposes.

403.245.0773

$499,900 MLS C3465582

fully develoPed Walkout

What information do you need for a
pre-approval?
For a mortgage pre-approval, the
following information is required of
the applicant (and co-applicant).
1. Full legal name(s) plus two pieces
of identification, such as Social
Insurance Number card(s); one with
photo identification (e.g. driver’s
license or Canadian passport).
2. All sources of income(s). For
example; pay stub or a copy of a T4
slip, letter from employer stating
how long you’ve worked for your
company and your annual salary or
wage, spousal support, etc.
3. Date(s) of birth.
4. Summary information on assets
(cash, investments) and liabilities
(loans, credit cards, any other payments, including alimony and child
support).
5. History of residence and employment (3 years).
6. I f on commission sales - 2 years
personal tax returns plus Notice of
Assessments from Revenue Canada.

CREB® is a professional body of more than 5062 licensed
brokers and registered associates, representing 243
member offices. CREB® is dedicated to enhancing the
value, integrity and expertise of its REALTOR® members.
We are committed to equipping our members with the
right tools, services and education to achieve professional
excellence — and, in turn, enabling REALTORS® to offer
the best possible service to their clients. Our REALTORS®
are committed to a high standard of professional
conduct, ongoing education, and a strict Code of Ethics
and Standards of Business Practice. Using the services of
a professional REALTOR® can help consumers take full
advantage of real estate opportunities while reducing
their risks when buying or selling real estate.
The opinions and views expressed herein are those of
the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions
or views of the publishers. CREB® Real Estate News is
published weekly by CREB®. Reproduction in any manner
in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without written
permission from the publisher. Due care and attention
is used in checking advertising copy for accuracy, but
no warranty is implied or given by the publishers. The
publishers are not responsible for typographical errors,
mistakes, omissions or misprints. Prices and terms
mentioned in advertisements can be subject to change
due to the time element between the date of material
submission and the date of publication. The publishers
reserve the right to refuse any advertising which they
believe is inconsistent with the concept of the publication.
The advertiser agrees to save the Publisher from any suit,
action or damage claim arising from the use of advertising
copy supplied. This includes specifically: infringement of
Copyright, Registered Trade Name, false advertising, and
violations of The Real Estate Act, and ethics of CREB®
and the Alberta Real Estate Association. The trademarks
REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the REALTOR® logo are
controlled by the Canadian Real Estate Association
(CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are
members of CREA. Used under license. The trademarks
MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos
are owned by the Canadian Real Estate Association
(CREA) and identify the quality of services provided
by real estate professionals who are members of CREA.
Used under license. The trademark CREB® and the CREB®
logo are owned by CREB®, and identify the CREB® Real
Estate News publication published by CREB®. Please
e-mail questions and comments to: info@creb.com.

With everything from home and garden ideas, eco-friendly food and clothing,
transportation options, organic food and cooking, to guest speakers and
interactive displays the Calgary Green Expo offers many simple ways of going
green and helping the environment.

The morning will begin with a “strategic discussion” around community
engagement and what roles the Federation might be able to assist with as they
move into reviewing our strategic directions. There will be plenty of time
to share your concerns and challenges – the network is a great place to find
answers or ideas. Please register online at calgarycommunities.com/events.php.

Through case studies, the Federation of Calgary Communities will discuss the
principles of urban design and how they affect policy. As well, they will provide
participants with a checklist of design objectives, which will assist them in their
evaluation of new developments in their communities. This will then be translated
into action at the community scale. The course will conclude with a workshop where
participants will collaborate on a design problem.

14

The annual Garden Show brings together over 10,000 gardening and outdoor
living enthusiasts complete with vendors, speakers from across Canada, local
gardening experts, hands-on activities, how-to clinic demonstrations and more.
The 2011 Garden Show is hosted by the Calgary Horticultural Society. Visit
www.calhort.org for more information.

Genworth Financial Canada presents National Homownership Week to open the door
to understanding the homebuying process. The week-long initiative is designed to
educate first-time homebuyers on basic mortgage terms and concepts, preparing them
for one of the biggest financial investments of their lifetime.
April 12 - Credit Day, April 13 - Reality Check, April 14 Homebuying Basics, April 15 - Test Your Knowledge,
April 16 - Tips on Purchasing and Owning a Home.

10
7depot14
14
home
diy workshops
14
14
10
7

Various Home Depot locations across Calgary. Visit www.homedepot.ca/workshops for more information.

mar

26

install crown moulding
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

mar

27

basic home repair
and safety
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

remember
March 18
Adjustments on
amortization and
refinancing limits
surrounding the
January mortgage
tightening rules
will officially come
into force.

When you list your home with me, you receive a GUARANTEE that we will sell your present home
before you take possession of your new one or we buy it. This means when you see a home you
like, you can immediately place a firm offer without the risk of owning two homes.

MLS.ca has delays of new listings of up to 7 days. Call us to receive up-to-the-minute listings INSTANTLY!

Prime opportunity in sought after Cactus
Ridge. Bright 2 sroey design with vaulted
ceilings and fireplace. Large master
bedroom with walk through to 4 piece bath,
make up area and walk-in closet. Private
patio and attached garage. Access to
downtown will only improve with completion
of LRT. MLS®C3458710

Contemporary 2 bedroom bungalow plus
character loft. Open plan with wonderful
décor, colours and craftsmanship. Tasteful
use of hardwood, tile and other finishing
touches. Lower level development includes
family room, 3rd bedroom, bathroom,
2nd fireplace and walkout to patio. Many
upgrades air conditioning, underground
sprinklers and double heated garage.
MLS®C3459894

For more
property
inFo, go to
REALTOR.cA
and enter
the 8
character
mLS®
number

MOUNT ROYAL TOWNHOUSE

ELBOW PARK CHARACTER HOME

Gorgeous Mount Royal townhouse with three stories
of luxury living. The master suite occupies the second
floor with cherry hardwood floors plus ensuite with
steam shower, double vanities & jet tub plus a den with
built-in desk. The main floor has a gourmet kitchen
with professional gas stove, warming oven, extensive
built-ins, a grand granite island, a cozy eating area and
a bright great room with gas fireplace, all with 9 foot
ceilings. There are beautiful hardwood floors on two
floors. No detail has been missed and there is a double
attached garage for the toys. Priced at $779,900.
MLS®C3454826

There is 2816 sq. ft. with four bedrooms up, den, formal
living room, gracious dining room, main floor family room
and a gourmet kitchen. The kitchen is newer with stainless
Sub Zero fridge, dishwasher, five burner gas cooktop,
granite counters and slate floors. There are gleaming
hardwood floors throughout the house and extensive
woodwork, high profile baseboards and leaded glass
windows. The master bedroom is very large, closet, plus a
divine ensuite with jetted tub, oversized custom shower and
double vanities. The main bath has been updated. Totally a
great home for families with lots of room, off street front
parking for 3 cars, dbl garage, sunny west deck and hot tub.
The basement is developed with rec room and 3 piece bath.
Priced at $874,900. MLS®C3456993

Taradale

saddleridge

Taralake

highland park
Beautiful 2 storey att home loaded
with upgrades, 1836 sq. ft., 3 bdrms,
2.5 bath, dbl det gar. $36,000 below
city assessment. You will be the first
one to live in this brand new home.

COACH MANOR ESTATES
Old traditional home on a large lot in Coach Manor Estates. Yard for kids to play
and on a cul-de-sac also. There is over 3200 sq. ft. of updated living space plus a
fully developed basement. The formal living room and dining room open off the
front entrance and are large. Off of the two storey foyer, there is a main floor den,
a new Thomasville kitchen with granite countertops and island, plus a family room
with wood burning fireplace. The upper level is very bright boasting four bedrooms
and a den, all in hardwood, off of a grand curving staircase. All new windows, metal
roof, hardwood floors, low flush toilets, hot water tanks garage door and openers
plus more. The lower level has a summer kitchen huge rec room, front and back
stairs and games room. Priced at $788,800. MLS®C3460476

For more information, please call:

Lori Dahlberg 403-252-5900
email: lori@royallepage.ca

11625 Elbow Drive SW

A8

march 25 to march 31 2011 |

community

heritage

New arena facility receives
major boost from developer

Aging Library Highlights
Need for New Facility

Bearspaw project will feature eco-friendly technology

Lower provincial
tax demands could
provide funding

cody stuart
managing editor

A

new project that will provide
Bearspaw residents with a
much-needed sports facility
has received a major boost with the
announcement of a $750,000 pledge.

role in the donation by Macdonald
Development Corporation.
“The need for more recreational
facilities in the area is significant,”
said Ron Lanthier, executive vice
president of Macdonald Development
Corporation. “It is our hope this
$750,000 pledge will inspire many
others to support the outstanding new

for the community by minimizing our
environmental footprint.”
The arena is just one facet of the
amenities available in the new community, which will also feature a central
plaza with a large pavilion, outdoor
kitchen, fire pit, barbecues, NBA-sized
sports court and a grass sports field.
Watermark at Bearspaw will also

cody stuart
managing editor

T

Illustration by Riddell Kurczaba

Provided by Macdonald Development Corporation, developers of a
new community in the area, the pledge
brings the amount raised for the project
to over $1 million, after just one month
of fundraising.
“We are very grateful to Macdonald
Development Corporation and
Watermark at Bearspaw for their
tremendous support of the new sports
complex and the Bearspaw community as a whole,” said Jens Lipper,
board chair of the Bearspaw-Glendale
Community Association. “Their
$750,000 pledge provides a huge boost
to our fundraising efforts and brings us
much closer to our first phase goal of
$1.5 million.”
When opened, the complex will meet
a growing demand for sports facilities
in the area. Currently, Bearspaw sports
team members must travel to facilities throughout Rocky View County
or Calgary to play on heavily booked
indoor hockey or soccer facilities. A
recent report from the City of Calgary
called for the construction of a dozen
new arenas around the city in the
next decade, a fact that played a key

facility as proposed by the BearspawGlendale Community Association.”
Key to the design of the new sports
complex are a number of features
designed to lessen its impact on the
environment, while still offering plenty
of comfort. Thanks to solar panel
technology, heated bleachers will make
those early morning practices a little
easier for parents, with the panels also
heating the domestic water and provide
hydronic heat to the facility.
Other key green features include
wind power to assist in operating the
sports complex and provide energy to
auxiliary electrical heat elements in the
hot water tanks. Plumbing in the facility
will use low consumption fixtures, and
grey water from sinks, urinals and showers will be recycled into irrigation tanks.
“Throughout the entire planning process, we have been very mindful of what
leading edge technologies can be used
to ensure this sports complex is as environmentally friendly as possible,” said
Lipper. “Not only will we be providing
a much needed sports facility for the
area, we will also be setting an excellent
example of environmental sustainability

include three onsite playgrounds, and it
will feature more than five kilometres
of interconnected paved trails that link
to the Bow Valley and to the recently
created 1,300-hectare Glenbow Ranch
Provincial Park.
The Calgary Foundation is also
providing a grant of $250,000 to the new
facility. An additional $80,000 has been
raised through community contributions, including $50,000 from a personal trust and $10,000 donation from
a Bearspaw resident. In addition,
the Bearspaw-Glendale Community
Association has saved and allocated
$400,000 to the cause. The estimated
total cost of the project is $6 million.
Located at the Bearspaw Lifestyle
Centre and Bearspaw School, construction of the first phase of the
multi-use sports complex will begin
later this year.

he W.R. Castell Library in
downtown Calgary has become
a hot topic around the city in
recent days, with the city receiving
some unexpected good news from the
provincial government that could add
an extra $42 million to the city budget.
Originally constructed in 1962,
a replacement for the aging library
could end up as one of the destinations
for the new money, although there are
others who would have rather seen
the windfall used to reduce this year’s
proposed 4.4 per cent tax increase to
just 1.2 per cent.
Although a plan to add a new central library has been in the works at
City Hall since 2004, delays in implementing the plan have resulted in
a building that is in drastic need of
upgrading. Recent estimates have put
the repair bill for the Central Library
at over $50 million dollars, outweighing the entire $40 million cost that
the city pledged to build a new library
back in 2004.
While council debates their
options open to them, Calgary’s
Central Library will continue to

serve Calgarians as it has, largely
unchanged, since a six-storey addition
was constructed in 1974.
Similar to the lengthy debate concerning its successor, discussions
about the current Central Library
went on for some time before the
building actually opened, with considerable controversy surrounding the
downtown site. After it was first proposed in 1954, it took nearly a decade
before ground would be broken on the
project.
Constructed at a cost of $1.2 million, with the north extension coming
it at $2 million, the library featured
a 210-seat circular auditorium complete with stage and a movie projection room, teak paneled board room,
as well as a reference and technical
library with a state-of-the-art “photoelectric copying service.”
The building’s more innovative features included a book chute and central vaccum cleaner, while the orange,
gold and teal décor with Naugahyde
upholstery and white formica tables
would have appeared less out of place
than it does today. When it officially
opened on June 15, 1963, the library
boasted a collection of some 100,000
and a full-time staff of 41. Re-opened
in 1974, the library was renamed the
W.R. Castell Central Library in honour of the Director of Libraries from
1945 to 1972.

Surprise funding could mean the
long planned replacement for Calgary’s
downtown library will arrive sooner
than expected.

cody stuart, CREB® Staff

your brand new home

is waiting with jayman realty
Jayman MasterBUILT® offers you the best choice of homes available on the market. With endless options of communities,
wanted. Don’t compromise, get the home you deserve today.
MLS® C3363744

1566 sq. ft. This unique and stylish home offers a fresh take
on a traditional layout, offering abundant room for entertaining

steel appliances, full
landscaped and fenced! Close to public
transit with a sunny west back yard, this
home is too good to be true!

$349,000

RIVERSONG
5 River Heights Blvd

$369,900

includes lot & GST

features a spacious kitchen complete with stainless steel
appliances and upgraded backsplash, a built-in desk area,
large great room, a dining room, and half bath, with hardwood
suite complete with ensuite and walk in closet, 2 additional
bedrooms and a linen closet. The oversized backyard comes
with a toboggan hill, this location is perfect for a young family.

$309,000

includes lot & GST

MLS® C3451422

MLS® C3455596

CHAPARRAL VALLEY
21 Chaparral Valley Court SE

CHAPARRAL VALLEY
84 Chaparral Valley Green SE

Tucked away in SE Calgary, the community
is surrounded by picturesque natural green
space! With 2,085 sq ft, this home features a
spacious kitchen open to the great room with
granite countertops, stainless steel appliances,
features two kitchen islands and has ceramic

This beautiful home is located along the Bow River
Valley in the new community of Chaparral Valley.
With 2,168 sq. ft., this home has it all. On a beautiful
green space lot with a great view this home features a

a loft area over the garage, 3 bedrooms,
2 bathrooms including a 4 piece master ensuite.

and computer niche, 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms on

$474,900

$443,900

includes lot & GST

From the moment you walk up the steps to this home you’ll know this is the one.
A former Jayman show home with pro decorating, you will enjoy air conditioning,
a spectacular
those cold winter
walk in closet and full ensuite with large soaker tub. This home won’t last long.
Call today. Includes 1 year builders warranty and 5 year structural warranty
through the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. Complimentary moving van
available through the builder. Net GST included in price if owner occupied with
rebates to Builder. Legal included through builders Lawyer.

includes lot & GST

includes lot & GST

Contact > Ernie Laprairie
E: elaprairie@jayman.com
P: 403.723.8400

jayman.com

JAY-577 Jayman Financial CREB ad.indd 1

jaymanrealty.com

3/21/11 3:47 PM

|

A9

march 25 to march 31 2011

PASCAL

1,416 SQ FT

$329,900
†

S
C/

Only 14 homes available! Don’t miss your last chance to save big on top-quality homes in
Chaparral Valley, just minutes from Fish Creek Park. All homes come loaded with upgrades,
include a double garage and offer immediate occupancy.

INSIGHT

1,425 SQ FT

$329,900

†

LD
SO

INSIGHT

PASCAL

1,436 SQ FT

1,416 SQ FT

$329,900

$329,900

E
OM
H
OW
SH

SOHO

RK
PA

COLBOURNE

2,162 SQ FT

1,513 SQ FT

T
LO

1,860 SQ FT

$449,900

T
LO

ORLEANS

1,615 SQ FT

$389,900

1,787 SQ FT

$419,900
E LOT
OM SE
H
R
OW OU
SH F C
L
GO

T
LO

VINTAGE

1,615 SQ FT

$365,900
AC
-S
DE
L
CU

SOHO

RK
PA

SIGNET

$449,900

$357,900
S
C/

$379,900

$365,900

SOHO

1,521 SQ FT

†

BEXLEY

1,615 SQ FT

BEXLEY

LEXINGTON 2

1,988 SQ FT

2,497 SQ FT

$669,900

$459,900

* Prices subject to change, E & OE. Image may vary from actual model. † Conditionally sold at time of print.

The REALTOR® trademark is controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identifies real estate professionals who are members of CREA.
The REALTOR® trademark is controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identifies real estate professionals who are members of CREA.

he fact that the words spring
and cleaning have become
nearly inseparable doesn’t
make the task any easier, nor does
it make it any less avoidable. Just as
the changing of the season signals
a return to warmer weather, it also
indicates to those that have spent
the winter months slumbering that
their excuses have evaporated away
along with the snow.
Needless to say, the task of tackling
months of neglect in one afternoon
or even a long weekend is far easier
said than done. While it might
seem that very little work went into
getting things to a state of disarray,
undoing all that neglect can prove
to be a monumental task. However,
with a plan in mind and a little
elbow grease, even the biggest jobs
can be accomplished.

Get everything
you need first.
No one likes stopping halfway
through a job, so even if heading
out for supplies could provide a
well-deserved break, resist the
temptation by gathering any you
might need beforehand. An early
morning trip to the hardware store
could make the difference between
achieving your goal and just spending another day spinning your
wheels.

When in doubt,
toss it out.
Or better yet, recycle it. Although
sentimental value might have you
clinging to that old china, putting
too much value in unused items
can be the first step down the long
road to appearing on Hoarders.
What better tribute to those old
items, and those that passed them
down, than to give them a new life
by donating them to the Salvation
Army or even collecting a few bucks
for them at a garage sale?

Start small.

lastly, stick to it.

One of the keys in avoiding a sense
of being overwhelmed when cleaning is to not tackle everything at
once. Begin in one room, or perhaps
one corner of your yard and move
outwards, dealing with jobs as they
come. By not trying to deal with
everything at once, you’ll be able to
get some sense of accomplishment
before moving onto the next job.

The easiest way to ensure that you
don’t have to repeat the whole
process come next spring is to not
revert back to your old unkempt
ways. Instead of simply tossing
that box into storage, figure out if
you really need it, and then put it
away neatly. It might take a few
more minutes to stay tidy in the
short term, but you’ll be thanking
yourself later.

A10

march 25 to march 31 2011 |

mortgage

Arranging a mortgage: a glossary of terms
Knowing the lingo
can help things go
smoothly for buyers
sharon essington
verico canada mortgage direct

L

ast week we addressed the kinds
of documents prospective homeowners would be wise to gather
up front, making for an easier approval
process in this fast-paced buying season. Having the right papers in hand
will lower the stress and keep things
moving quickly, but so too will having a base knowledge of the language
involved in this process.
Mortgage financing comes with
a terminology all its own, which can
lead to frustration and confusion
when trying to keep it all straight
– especially if this is your first time

around. This week, let’s explore the
most common terms you will encounter when arranging a mortgage and
how these come together when considering your approval.
One word that will likely come
up again and again when looking to
arrange a mortgage is amortization.
Amortization refers to the total length
of time the mortgage is stretched out
over for re-payment purposes. By
extending the amortization up to a
maximum of 30 years, the likelihood
of qualifying for a mortgage can be
greatly increased, especially when the
purchase prices here in Calgary metro
averaged $461,786 for a single-family
home in February of this year, according to CREB®.
A mortgage term describes the
length of time in which the current
mortgage type and rate will be in place
for. Mortgage terms can vary between
six months to as long as 25 years. The
amortization and term in most cases
do not match. When the term is complete a new mortgage is negotiated.
It is important to understand that

by agreeing to a particular term, the
lender has an expectation of the borrower that the particulars of the
mortgage contract will be met for that
duration. If the borrower decides to
end the mortgage prior to the term
expiration, the lender may impose
certain cancellation measures, such
as a payout penalty. These payout
penalties vary widely between mortgage products and can come with a
hefty price tag if you’re not careful. It
is wise to consider your exit strategy
and end goal with the property when
selecting the mortgage product so you
are not caught off guard.
Other common terms that will
come up when applying for a mortgage are the gross debt servicing ratio
and the total debt-servicing ratio,
known more commonly in the industry as GDSR and TDSR. Both of these
refer to the ratio between the gross
income and debt of an applicant.
The GDSR refers specifically to the
property debt – monthly mortgage
payment, property taxes, heat and any
condo fees that may apply.

(As of march 21, 2011)

6mo

6mo

1yr

2 yrs

3 yrs

4 yrs

5 yrs

7yrs

10 yrs

open

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

ATB Financial

6.30

4.45 3.50 3.75 4.35 4.99 3.99 6.40

BMO

3.59

your side helping you to make your
dreams a reality. Call a mortgage specialist today to get started.

Where

Residential Mortgage Rates
AMA Financial 2.95

Whereas the TDSR looks at the
total debt of a borrower, which
includes the mortgage payment of the
proposed property, property taxes,
heat and any condo fees, in addition
to any consumer debt the individual
carries, such as credit cards, lines
of credit, vehicle payments, student
loans, etc.
If the borrower is a little tight to
qualify based on their current debt
ratios, the mortgage advisor will
likely suggest increasing the amortization, which will in turn lower the
monthly payments.
This gives you some insight into
the most common terms that will
come up during the mortgage financing process. Remember, you can make
this process even easier on yourself
by choosing to utilize a mortgage
expert who works in this area every
day and will guide you through the
process.
With lots of great properties available, and many buyers in the market
eyeing up the same ones you are, it
makes good sense to have an ally on

4.09

Am I?

This article is brought to you by:

sharon
essington of
verico canada
mortgage direct
(403) 239-8250
Sharon@SharonEssington.com
Call today for free mortgage advice!
Sign up for monthly mortgage tips at
www.SharonEssington.com
Sharon Essington is an Accredited Mortgage
Professional with Verico Canada Mortgage Direct
Ltd and can be reached at 403-239-8250.

Can you guess
where this is located?
Look for the answer
in next week’s issue
of CREB® Real
Estate News.

6.30 4.45 3.50 3.75 4.35 4.99 5.34 6.35 6.50

Bridgewater Bank

3.05

3.45

3.69

Calgary Mortgage Corp

2.64

3.35

3.80 3.94 4.04 4.79 4.99

Canadian Western Bank

6.45 4.45 3.50

3.75

4.35 4.99 5.34

CIBC

6.70

Dominion Lending Centres Westcor

4.45

4.45

4.04

2.54 3.25 3.55

3.84

3.84 3.89 5.19

3.99

3.99 6.29 6.59

6.30 4.45 2.99

HSBC Bank Canada

6.20 4.45 3.50 3.75 4.35 5.14

Jencor Mortgage

6.89

3.50 3.75 4.35 4.99 5.34 6.50 6.60

First Calgary

Invis

4.04

3.75

3.95 2.64 3.29

3.49

3.55

5.44 6.30 6.50

3.84 3.94 4.79 4.99

6.70 3.95 2.64 3.25 3.70 3.84

3.89

4.94 5.15

Laurentian Bank 6.70
3.95
3.50

3.75

4.35

4.99

5.34

6.40

6.60

M. Richard & Associates Inc.

4.45

2.90

3.30

3.65

3.89

3.84

4.79

4.99

Mortgage Alliance Company

3.95

2.70 3.25 3.27

3.79

3.74 4.79 4.99

Mortgage Intelligence

3.95

2.54

3.20

3.39

3.79

3.84 4.75 5.15

MyMortgage.ca

4.45

2.64

3.25

3.35

3.74

3.84

4.89

5.09

National Bank 6.70
4.45
3.50
3.75

4.35

4.99

5.34

6.34

6.40

RBC Royal Bank

4.45

4.35

4.99

5.34

6.40

6.60

Scotiabank

6.45 4.55 4.30 4.05 4.35 4.99 5.29 6.39 6.89

3.50

3.75

TD Canada Trust 3.50
3.75 4.35 4.99 5.34

6.14

6.50

The Mortgage Group
4.45 2.64 3.35 3.80 3.94 3.94 4.99 5.19

Did you guess correctly? Last week’s photo was a picture
of the Scotiabank Saddledome at Stampede Park.

*All the above information is subject to change without notice. Certain rates may be displayed as promotional rates only. Contact individual institutions for details.

BECOME A REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE
F/T courses run Mon – Fri from 9am – 4pm
P/T courses run Tues & Thurs from 6:30pm – 9:30pm
as well as Saturdays from 9am – 4pm
Introduction to a Career in Real Estate
$125.00 (incl GST)
The next f/t course starts March 29 or April 25
The next p/t course starts April 16
Fundamentals of Real Estate
$1595.00 (incl GST)

Are you looking for a mortgage but don’t have the time to visit a Servus
branch during regular work hours? We know you’re busy and your time
is valuable.
Our mortgage development managers are mobile lending professionals

The next f/t course starts April 11 or May 9
The next p/t course starts April 26
Real Estate Areas of Practice
$745.00 (incl GST)
The next f/t course for Residential Real Estate starts April 4 or May 9

same expert advice and mortgage features you’d find in our branches.

$745.00 (incl GST)
The next f/t course for Commercial Rural Estate starts
April 18 or May 24

Mark Brennan

Peggy Barrett

$595.00 (incl GST)
The next f/t course for Rural Real Estate starts May 2 or June 6

Sales Manager

Mortgage Development Manager

403.815.9617

587.226.1008

mark.brennan@servus.ca

peggy.barrett@servus.ca

who can help you analyze your mortgage needs and customize a solution
just for you. Even better, they’ll go to you. You’ll have access to all the

The complete course (1-3) is required for licensing
A minimum age of 18 & a high school education is required
A criminal record/finger printing is required for licensing
Exam to follow after each section at learner’s expense

servus.ca

feel good about your money.

For more information on these courses or to register online
visit: www.creb.com & follow the Education & Careers link or
call 403-218-3684

14 COVEMEADOW MR NE
$299,000
Perfect bright
E
C D!
2 storey
REDU
townhouse
starter home
in Coventry! 2
bedrooms, 2
baths & single
attached garage!! Full unspoiled basement is perfect for future development!
Patio has privacy walls and is just off the
large & bright main floor great room/
family room. Close to all amenities! Call
to view today!

45228 BURMA ROAD NW
$424,900
Enormous
building opportunity on
this secluded
1.980 acres
in Bearspaw!
Surrounded
by multi-million dollar homes & close
to both the Cochrane & Calgary areas.
Ideal lot for great walkout possibilities!
Last lot on this recently subdivided land.
Lowest price for location in the area of
BearsPaw! Now $424,900!

know?
In order to make it easier for average Calgarians to
conduct business and determine what’s going on
around their community, the City of Calgary has
launched a new mapping solution that highlights all
active Land Use, Outline Plans and Road Closures
(LOC) applications online.
On this map, citizens and the development industry
will be able to locate LOC information by community,
ward or quadrant that may be of interest to them or
a project. The new map can be viewed at calgary.ca/
applicationmap

$725,000

Did you

First time ever
available For sale!

Gorgeous, south west
corner, up in the sky,
on the 33rd floor sub
penthouse with a truly
panoramic views starting
from
the
Stampede
grounds, through the
rocky mountains and up to the beautiful Calgary
downtown. The 10.5 ft. ceilings over 1300 sq.
ft. of an open floor plan makes this unit very airy
and easy to manage the available space. Many
upgrades, like granite countertops through the
unit, professional series, SS appliances, SS
backsplash, a jetted bath tub and a separate stand
up shower in your master ensuite. Lots of storage
space insuite as well as U/G storage. Offers two
titled parking. For downtown commuters the LRT
station is just seconds away. You get here a full
time concierge, security personnel and caretaker
service. View it now! C3451695

New two storey 4 bedroom home. Exterior of this home exudes
character and quality. Exceptional kitchen, with all the highend gourmet appliances included. The great room features
open beam cathedral ceiling & massive free standing rock
faced fireplace. Amazing views of the valley below, the Rockies
to the west and city lights by night. The main floor master BR
and ensuite is extra spacious. The upper level features 2 extra
large bedrooms and a duplicate master bedroom suite. The
lower level is a fully undeveloped walkout that awaits only your
imagination. MLS® C3446377
Beautiful hillside bungalow in Bearspaw. Over 5200 sq. ft of
well thought out development on three levels, featuring five
large bedrooms. Warm and inviting designer color schemes.
The great room features an expansive west facing window wall
with view of Rockies. High vaulted ceilings. Kitchen features
a full range of GE Monogram appliances, cherry cabinets and
island, with black toned granite counters. Maple hardwood
floors on main level. Large deck on east and west sides. Lower
level features family room, media room, large gym and wine
cellar. MLS® C3460303
15.43 ACRES in BEARSPAW. A fine country residential
property totalling 6337 sq.ft developed. The spacious foyer
features a grand curved stairway. 2nd floor large master
bedroom with sitting area has mountain views, private balcony
and fireplace. Guest bedroom with ensuite, two additional large
bedrooms on this level share a bedroom. Gourmet kitchen,
living room, main family room and a library/den/office. The
lower level is fully dev and features a health and fitness spa,
wine cellar, wet bar, extra bedroom, office. Attached heated 4
car garage. Price reduced. MLS® C3451924
This is an astonishing Rocky Mountain view lot. Just five
minutes from Calgary and 10 minutes from Cochrane. Golfing
and Hiking are also five minutes away. Bearspaw K-8 is two
minutes away. The lot has character to spare. The SW facing
building slope overlooks a small ravine and into an Aspen
Woodland. Above the surrounding pastoral scenes, the Rockies
sweep dramatically across the western horizon. Located at the
end of a quiet cul-de-sac this exceptional 2.8 ACRE lot must be
seen to be appreciated. MLS®C3465041

A simply astonishing view of the Rockies, the Bow River Valley, and a portion
of the town of Cochrane. This prime 4.11 acre lot has the terrain that allows
you to build a walkout style home on a gently sloping ridge with a commanding view of the mountains, or you can choose to locate your home in a lower
elevation and still have a walkout basement. This location is excellent, just
eight minutes from Calgary via 1A Highway and three minutes to the Town
of Cochrane. The new Glendale Ranch Provincial Park is at your doorstep.
Power gas and telephone are at the property line. The water supply is from the
paid for Co-op waterline. A drilled water well is also included. This is truly
a rare opportunity to acquire one of the great view lots in the Calgary area.
MLS®C3439735
An excellent view lot in an upscale subdivision with architectural controls. This lot will accomodate a hillside style home.
Features include co-op water, power and gas paid to property
line. Close to schools and shopping. Located 12 km north west
of Calgary. Easy Access to Cochrane or Calgary. A great lot in
the subdivision of Mountain Glen Estates. MLS® C3462002

Did you

know?
• Canadian households used almost 1.4 million terajoules (TJ) of energy in 2007.
•A
n average household’s energy consumption in 2007 was 106 gigajoules (GJ).
•A
verage household energy consumption was lower for apartment dwellers
(44 GJ) than those in single-family dwellings (137 GJ).

RICE

•B
etween 2003 and 2007, 50 per cent of households that owned their
dwelling and were not in apartments made at least one improvement to
their home intended to reduce energy consumption.
•B
etween 2005 and 2007, drinking water plants in Canada produced an
average of 5,628 million cubic metres of treated water each year.
• In 2007, 68 per cent of Canadian households reported that they lived
within five minutes of public transit, and 41 per cent of those households
used it regularly.

•F
rom 1990 to 2009, the dollar value of Canada’s natural resource wealth—
including energy and minerals in the ground, or accessible stands of
timber in forests—grew on average by 6 per cent per year.
* According to latest figures released by Statistics Canada

The REALTOR® trademark is controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identifies real estate professionals who are members of CREA.

The REALTOR® trademark is controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identifies real estate professionals who are members of CREA.

Encouraging numbers for Canada’s labour market
Productivity and output
both on the rise

service sector outpaced that of the
goods sector.
Services-producing businesses
were responsible for the overall
increase in business productivity, as
their productivity rose 0.8 per cent
during the quarter, led by retail trade
(+2.1 per cent), wholesale trade (+1.7
per cent), and finance, insurance and
real estate (+0.9 per cent).
Productivity among goodsproducing businesses declined
0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter.
Productivity decreases in manufacturing and construction were
partly offset by productivity gains
in mining, oil and gas extraction and
utilities.
Business productivity was up 1.4
per cent in 2010, after rising 0.4 per
cent in 2009, which equates to the
largest annual advance since 2005.
The 3.2 per cent increased in the
real gross domestic product of businesses was composed of the 1.4 per
cent increase in productivity and a
1.8 per cent gain in hours worked. In
contrast, there were sharp declines

cody stuart
managing editor

A

ccording to Statistics
Canada, productivity of
Canadian business increased
slightly in the fourth quarter of 2010.
In the latest numbers released by
the organization, labour productivity of Canadian businesses increased
by 0.5 per cent during the period,
after advancing 0.4 per cent the previous quarter.
Businesses boosted their real output by 0.9 per cent during the fourth
quarter, a faster pace compared with
the previous two quarters. Serviceproducing businesses were the main
contributor to the growth. For the
first time since the third quarter of
2009, growth in the output of the

in business output (-4.0 per cent)
and hours worked (-4.4 per cent)
in 2009.
Labour costs per unit of production rose 0.6 per cent for Canadian
businesses in the fourth quarter.
This was similar to the increase in
each of the previous two quarters
(+0.5 per cent).
Average compensation per hour
worked once again grew faster than
productivity, advancing 1.1 per cent
in the fourth quarter.
The average value of the Canadian
dollar against the American currency rose 2.6 per cent in the fourth
quarter. Canadian unit labour costs
measured in US dollars increased 3.2
per cent, after falling by 0.6 per cent
in the third quarter.
By comparison, American businesses’ unit labour costs edged down
0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter,
after remaining unchanged the previous quarter.

1.4%
Business productivity
was up 1.4 per cent in
2010, the largest annual
advance since 2005.

ExcELLENT OppORTUNiTy to own a
COMMERCIAL development lot in downtown
CARSTAIRS (with good visibility from Hwy 2A,
across from the Co-op Gas Bar). Lot sizes will be
carved to your specific requirements and subdivided upon purchase. C1018096

$250,000

oFFIces and BoardrooM

Adjoining condominium units
with a total of 5576 total sq. ft.
available in the Wrangler Business
Park. Units 30 & 31 are located at
the end of building #2 with plenty
of parking. There is also 3400
sq. ft. of outside storage. Ideally
suited to fabrication or auto body
business as it is equipped with air
make up unit. Close to developing
ring road. MLS®C1018410.

prIced For quIck sale

Spacious industrial condo in
southeast industrial area has a
great location with good road
access close to Barlow Trail and
Deerfoot. With a total of 3549 sq.
ft. and 5 brand new offices spread
over 2 levels this unit has plenty
of room to grow. MLS®C1018431

$58
9,0
00

prIce Below appraIsed
value For quIck sale

$44
5,0
00

great place

For sale or lease 3589 sq. ft.
industrial condo one year old
in the Foothills Industrial Park
Starfield area. Two offices and
common front open area are fully
finished and air conditioned. The
yard is paved and landscaping
completed. MLS®C1017907.

Two new undeveloped condo
bays available in Patton Industrial
Park. These condos have a
great location very close to the
developing ring road in County of
Rocky View. The each have 2788
sq. ft. of warehouse space and
1700 sq. ft. in outside storage.
Units are adjacent but listed
separately. MLS®C1017123 &
MLS®C1017125.

4-BAy cAR & TRUck WAsh in the village
of PIGEON LAKE. Have you been dreaming of
owning a lake property, a car wash, your own
business? Here’s a great opportunity to have it all!
C1018368

DevelopeD/ServiceD lanD

Strathmore estate development of 65 large lots,
architectural controls in place, 82% are walkout lots. Backs
on man-made lake, ready to build. Close to golf, town
centre and easy access to Hwy #1 to Calgary (25-30 mins).

By Spruce Meadows, 2 km south of 22X on 37th Street SW
(east side of street). Beautiful pasture land c/w spring fed
pond and trees, 3/4 of property is a grass land with view of
Spruce Meadows and city from west and east. 10 minutes
to all amenities (shopping centres, health centres, etc).
$2,650,000

You have never seen anything
this IMPRESSIVE in the town
of Three Hills, Alberta
7109 sq. ft., built in 2007, seating for 200
people. Formal dining area, restaurant and
patio. Open style commercial kitchen with
storage and utility rooms. 3 phase - 400
Amp service to the building and much
more. Call the James Carpenter Team now
to view at 403-335-0007. C1018289

Contact

The James CarpenTer
Team | 403.335.0007

(CREA()CREA
The REALTOR®
controlled
The Canadian
Real Estate
and identifies
real estate
professionals
who
areare
members
) and identifies
Thetrademark
REALTOR®istrademark
is by
controlled
by The Canadian
RealAssociation
Estate Association
real estate
professionals
who
membersofofCREA.
CREA.

The REALTOR® trademark is controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identifies real estate professionals who are members of CREA.

A customized plan to get more
for your home. Quicker.
Trust in an experienced, dedicated REALTOR® who is one of Canada’s
leading Real Estate agents for over 25 years. Ranked the #1 Team
in Calgary and #6 in Canada for Royal LePage in 2010, Kirby
and his team can confidently provide the results you demand.

$699,900

Jessica Chan

Top No. 1 Agent in office in 2009
Top No. 1 Selling Agent in Calgary in 2009
Top No. 5 Agent in re/mAx Western Canada in 2009

did you know?
REALTORS® generally don’t use street addresses to identify homes, they use MLS® numbers.
MLS® numbers contain 8 characters (example: C3121212) that you can enter on REALTOR.ca to access
further information, additional photos, virtual tours and more on the property for sale.

Mortgage payment is based upon a 5 year FRM @ 4.09%, 35 year amortization.
Prices subject to change without notice. Some conditions apply. Photos of showhome models & quick possession homes will not be exactly as shown.

For a complete list of our quick possession
homes, visit us at www.tricohomes.com
Includes home, lot, and GST. Prices subject to change without notice. Some conditions apply.
Photos are show home models and quick possession home will not be exactly as shown.